Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossils and Geologic Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the development of the geologic time scale. They examine the major time periods in earth's history. Students discuss the role fossils play in helping us understand history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Forecasting: From Then to Now

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders review the history of weather forecasting. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders identify the different tools used in forecasting weather. They explain why it's important to know the weather.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Find It!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students analyze the basic concept of Global Positioning Systems using triangulation and measurement on a small scale in the classroom. They describe a satellite and how it helps in locating a person on Earth. They explain how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pattern

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students describe examples of the relationship between structure and function in living systems, particularly with regard to specialized tissues and organs. They describe examples of biological diversity and adaptation of organisms with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vibrant Volcanoes

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore volcanoes. In this science lesson, students discuss the characteristics of volcanoes and view a video segment about a volcano. Students examine plate tectonics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants and Animals: Partners in Pollination

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students identify the plant parts and bee structures that are involved in pollination. They simulate pollination in a group activity and process the information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Easy as Pi

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students describe the importance of structural features that increase surface area in a coral reef habitat.  In this investigative lesson students quantify the impact of modifications on surface area in model habitats. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tides of Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use the Internet to gather information on tides and then use this information to determine the period of revolution of the moon around the earth (part 1) and the relative pull of the sun and the moon on the tides (part 2).
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Populations and Ecosystems

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders create a model of an ecosystem and label it to show structure and function. They research the food web of an aquatic animal and also trace energy flow from the primary producer up the food chain.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The No Zone of Ozone

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the causes and effects of the Earth's ozone holes through discussion and an interactive simulation. Using gumdrops and toothpicks, they conduct a large-group, interactive ozone depletion model.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Different Rock Types

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze a rock using their eyes and then a hand lens. In this science lesson, students determine and discuss how hard or how easy it was to find and classify the assigned rock. Students record their observations on an index...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Matter

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the structure of matter. They examine pictures of atoms and molecules and discuss their relationships, and construct a model of a molecule using toothpicks and gumdrops.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Naturally Speaking

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify the Earth's natural resources and classify them as renewable or non-renewable. They simulate the distribution of resources and discuss the fairness and effectiveness of the distribution. They identify ways that they use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jupiter's Weather Forecast

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students read information about Jupiter and the planet's weather. In this Jupiter weather lesson, students read information about Jupiter's weather. Students study a chart about the weather on Earth and Jupiter. Students read a weather...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks Up!

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students will design and build a structure to support a rock. Students will use their knowledge of movement of objects to determine the proper base to be built to support their rock. Students will explore their natural area for...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Coral Reefs

For Teachers 4th
Study explore coral reefs. In this coral reef lesson plan, 4th graders examine the physical structure of coral reefs. Students consider why coral reefs need to be protected and ways to protect them.
Lesson Plan
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Planet Interiors

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners compare and contrast the Earth's interior with 2 other planets by looking at images on the computer. In this planet interiors lesson plan, students write a paper about their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Move Your Muscles!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students, through teacher lecture and class discussion, explore the three different types of muscles in the human body and the effects of microgravity on these muscles. They explain what happens to muscles in outer space and describe the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mr. and Mrs. Cress Head

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore Earth science by completing a plant art project. In this botany lesson, students utilize tights and soil to create a furry, grassy puppet style animal from cress seeds. Students cut off the excess cress after several...
Organizer
Curated OER

Mineral Properties

For Students 6th - 8th
In this earth science worksheet, students look at the properties that are common to identifying minerals and the types of observations one can make.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Candy DNA Model Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Young scholars explore DNA structure using materials such as Twizzlers, small colored gumdrops and/or toothpicks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Socratic Questions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students reflect on and discuss theories of how the solar system was formed. They respond to prompts in a structured sequence to relate the formation of the solar system and the age of the Earth.
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Geology Quiz- Common Minerals

For Teachers 4th - 5th
In this earth science worksheet, students determine the name of 10 minerals based on the descriptions given on the page. They see pictures of a number of minerals, and check their answers with the word bank at the bottom of the page.
Worksheet
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Eyewitness Insect Video Quiz

For Students 5th - 7th
In this insect worksheet, students answer 12 multiple choice questions after watching a video about insects. Topics include structures of insects, characteristics of insects, termites, crickets and beetles and the process of metamorphosis.